Affordability concerns and new, increased transport links connecting outer commuter areas with central London have the city’s residents leaving in droves, according to a report Thursday from Knight Frank, which analyzed the latest migration data from the U.K.’s Office for National Statistics.
The data shows that migration from London to other parts of the U.K. is at its highest level ever, the report said,
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In the year to June, 2017, 336,000 people left London, up 15% compared to the previous year.
Londoners in their 30s were the largest group ditching the city, and the most popular destination last year for those who left was Scotland, which saw 7,916 new residents from the city.
For those staying within England, Birmingham, in the West Midlands, welcomed 7,604 ex-Londoners, more than any other area and an increase of 16.5% from the previous 12 months.
Birmingham was followed by Brighton and Hove in South East England, which saw 6,138 new residents from London. Thurrock in the East of England and part of the London commuter belt and Bristol in South West England logged 5,927 and 5,244 new residents from London, respectively.
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"Housing affordability is likely to have helped sway the decision of some to leave London," said Tom Bill, head of London residential research at Knight Frank, in the report. "While this highlights a potential longer-term risk for the capital’s economy, for others, exceptional house price growth in London in recent years will have enabled them to make the move."
Rising employment opportunities outside the capital are an increasingly strong draw for movers, said Knight Frank residential research associate Oliver Knight in the report. As are the planned improvements to transport infrastructure, including the full opening on the Elizabeth Line next year and the HS2 railway in 2026, he said.
The only age group that had a positive net migration figure in the capital, according to the statistics which date back to 2011, is those in their 20s. This is likely to reflect the large number of students moving to London to study, the report said.